Liu Chuanzhi, the founder of Lenovo (originally called Legend), served as Lenovo’s first CEO and played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a small startup to a global tech powerhouse.
He co-founded Lenovo in 1984 with just 200,000 yuan in capital.
He emphasized developing an effective relationship with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to gain autonomy over finances, human resources, and decision-making.
Under Liu's leadership, Lenovo became the top PC brand in China by 1997, overtaking IBM and Compaq, and he nurtured much of Lenovo's top management, including his successor Yang Yuanqing.
Liu's biggest achievement was orchestrating Lenovo's historic $1.25 billion acquisition of IBM's PC division in 2005, making it the first Chinese company to purchase a major American tech firm, despite the major risks involved.
After stepping down as CEO, Liu remained involved as president of the parent company Legend Holdings and was praised for his vision and leadership during his 20-year tenure as CEO.
Stephen M. Ward Jr. served as the CEO of Lenovo from April 2005 to January 2006, after Lenovo acquired IBM's Personal Computing Division, where he had previously held senior management positions from 1978 to 2005.
As Lenovo's first CEO after the acquisition, Ward successfully helped create a single global PC company from the two distinct organizations of Lenovo and IBM's former PC division, making significant progress in integrating the operations, establishing a global brand, and creating value for shareholders in the first year.
William Amelio served as the CEO and President of Lenovo from December 2005 to February 2009, tasked with overseeing the integration of IBM's PC business into Lenovo and driving the company's global growth.
Under Amelio's leadership, Lenovo experienced revenue growth from $13 billion to $15 billion by 2008, expanded its brand internationally, and had sales profits greater than the market average for seven consecutive quarters.
He implemented strategies to enhance Lenovo's operational efficiency and profitability, such as adopting Six Sigma practices, and focused on growing the company's presence in emerging markets.
However, amid the global financial crisis, Lenovo posted a $97 million loss in Q4 2008, and Amelio's three-year contract was not renewed.
Yang Yuanqing has been the Chairman and CEO of Lenovo since 2011.
He has played a crucial role in Lenovo's growth and success over the past three decades, transforming the company into a global technology leader.
He oversaw the acquisition of Motorola Mobility from Google in 2014 for $2.91 billion, significantly expanding Lenovo's presence in the smartphone market.
Yang has been recognized for his strategic vision, innovative thinking, and strong execution skills, which have helped Lenovo navigate industry challenges and maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.